Brain lithium, <i>N</i>‐acetyl aspartate and <i>myo</i>‐inositol levels in older adults with bipolar disorder treated with lithium: a lithium‐7 and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Abstract

Our findings of a relationship between higher brain lithium levels and elevated NAA levels in older adult subjects with BD may support previous evidence of lithium's neuroprotective, neurotrophic, and mitochondrial function-enhancing effects. Elevated myo-Ino related to elevated brain lithium levels may reflect increased inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) activity, which would lead to an increase in myo-Ino levels. This is the first study to demonstrate alterations in NAA and myo-Ino in a sample of older adults with BD treated with lithium.